Communities of Influencecontents page

Introduction – a fresh approach to improving servicesEncouraging change from the ground up1 – The power of the collective voiceHow a charity known for its nurses came to work with general practitioners2 – Making the invisible visibleThe importance of tracking life and achievements of communities over time3 – Working with and through doctorsHow a community of GPs made a difference to patient care4 – The social life of documentsMaking sure written products of communities get noticed and used5 – Hybrid creaturesA novel way of bridging the gap between research and service improvement4 – Cultivating a lively communityThe role of the supporting team in helping a group become more influential5 – Involving lay people as partnersHow patients joined a professional community and helped shape new services8 – Playing a long gameBenefits and risks of working with communities of influence over time

Postscript: a writer’s personal reflectionsSuggestions for further reading